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Ibasso DX100 vs Nuforce Icon HDP

post #1 of 26
4/2/12 at 11:53am
Thread Starter 

Hey guys,

 

It seems like everyone's really liking the DX100's sound quality. 

 

Was just wondering how the dac and amp on the DX100 compares with the Icon HDP? Or is the Icon HDP in a totally different class because it's a desktop amp? Was curious because I've heard many people say how the DX100 compares with many desktop rigs and that they can drive headphones like the HD800 well?

 

I'm currently using a Sansa fuze+/E11 combo. And was thinking of getting an iphone and going LOD to my amp instead. But then I'll have to convert all my flac files to alac, which I really don't want to do.

 

On the side I was thinking of getting the Nuforce Icon HDP for home use with my laptop. 

 

For home I currently use the Senn HD558's, M50's, Shure DJ750 and Senn HD25. 

I've also ordered a pair of the Miles Davis Monster IEM's, which are coming in the mail. 

 

Somewhere in the near future I was thinking of upgrading to either an AKG Q701 or DT880. Or I might even go broke and go for the hd800 if I'm crazy enough. lol. 

 

I'm pretty sure the DX100 would trump any Iphone LOD to E11 combo. But the DX100 is insanely pricey at $800. However, if it's sound quality and power rivals the Nuforce Icon HDP then I might actually be saving money if I just go for the DX100.

 

Any idea how the DAC and amp of the two compares?

 

Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thx for the help! =D

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post #2 of 26
4/2/12 at 12:36pm
extremefacepalm.png
Edited by Girls Generation - 4/2/12 at 12:41pm
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post #3 of 26
4/2/12 at 1:20pm
Thread Starter 

Uh.. yuh.. thx for the reply GG. lol. *bump* =p

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post #4 of 26
4/2/12 at 2:22pm

The HDP is a fairly portable home DAC-amp-preamp.  The DX100 is an all in one solution that doesn't require any other equipment or cables.  The DX100's DAC is uncommonly good and if you have the patience to wait for every last wrinkle and bug to be ironed out, it's a very good listening experience.  

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post #5 of 26
4/2/12 at 7:54pm
Thread Starter 

Thanks so much for your reply  Scooter. Yeah, all the feedback for the dx100 seems positive so far. Just wondering if I'll still need to get another desktop rig in the class of an Icon HDP after I get the dx100. It'd be great for me and my wallet if I could just keep it simple and get one. lol

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post #6 of 26
4/2/12 at 10:35pm

If you don't mind having to just limit yourself to playing music from the DX100 DAP (which some people claim to sound better than having their Macbook as a transport), you can just stick with the DX100 and forget about such a desktop rig as the Icon HDP.
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Eric23 View Post

Thanks so much for your reply  Scooter. Yeah, all the feedback for the dx100 seems positive so far. Just wondering if I'll still need to get another desktop rig in the class of an Icon HDP after I get the dx100. It'd be great for me and my wallet if I could just keep it simple and get one. lol



 

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post #7 of 26
4/2/12 at 11:05pm

Portable vs desktop thread again?

 

1324541074354.png

 

I have a Hifiman HM-602, and while it's good.. it's never going to match a home setup for that kind of money.. I mean I need to run my cans out of it right? Although Macbook optical is pretty meh compared to a dedicated transport (which is silly for the money IMO), their USB ain't so bad.

 

Buy the HDP.. you'd be saving money going that route.. the Schiit stack has more power.. and thats about it, I prefer the tonality of the HDP on more sane cans.

 

Picture 91.jpg

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post #8 of 26
4/3/12 at 10:56am
Thread Starter 

Thx for the help guys. Didn't know there's been a lot of portable vs desktop thread. Just i've been hearing so many good things about the performance and power of the dx100 for a portable player that I'm curious how powerful is it compared to desktop rigs in the HDP price range.

 

Chris, i'm guessing perhaps the HDP would have more power than the dx100? Wonder how close they are in that department...

 

Thx again.

 

 

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post #9 of 26
4/3/12 at 12:25pm

I didn't think someone like you would make such wild assumptions. An HM602 to represent a DX100? Really?

Like I said, if he can handle having his music in a DAP, then he has the option to carry it around with IEMs, DX100 being one of the best portable DAPs as of the moment, or use it as a transport for desktop setups since the DX100 has Coax and Optical outs. People who own the DX100 have claimed that DX100 sounds superior to the Macbook, as a transport. Even without considering the sound differences, the DX100 offers so much more flexibility. He only needs to have his music on his DAP, and it will be capable of being a transport, and a portable DAP for on-the-go listening. Its ES9018 DAC chips are implemented well; its also able to drive HD800s and LCD2s with just its internal amp perfectly well, which I find sound better than a full CLAS DB2 SR71B/DB2 topkit setup. My Objective2 doesn't add any benefits to the sound with LCD2s, meaning it's as good as the O2. Yes, of course a desktop setup "may" sound better (depending on whether it's lower class setups, or high end $1500+), but I'm satisfied with this because it fits my needs better. I don't want to bother with large desktop amps, since I'm a student and never at my house.

 

@Chris_Himself: If you don't know what the DX100 is, what it does, or how it sounds, you should refrain from giving one-sided advice.

 

@OP: Consider your 'needs' when deciding. Would you like one of the best DAPs in the market, with multiple functions, 24/192, ability to drive fullsized headphones, and an overall amazing sound? Or do you want to spend less and give up some features and portability?

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris_Himself View Post

Portable vs desktop thread again?

 

1324541074354.png

 

I have a Hifiman HM-602, and while it's good.. it's never going to match a home setup for that kind of money.. I mean I need to run my cans out of it right? Although Macbook optical is pretty meh compared to a dedicated transport (which is silly for the money IMO), their USB ain't so bad.

 

Buy the HDP.. you'd be saving money going that route.. the Schiit stack has more power.. and thats about it, I prefer the tonality of the HDP on more sane cans.

 

Picture 91.jpg



 


Edited by Girls Generation - 4/3/12 at 12:46pm
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post #10 of 26
4/3/12 at 12:34pm

It wouldn't be a bad idea to pair the DX100 directly (as a transport + dac) with a desktop amp like the Valhalla or something like that, through its line output.  However the DX100's built in amp is very capable, this sort of amp would really only add a lot if you're driving 300-600 ohm cans or HE-6's.  

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post #11 of 26
4/3/12 at 1:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Eric23 View Post

 

Chris, i'm guessing perhaps the HDP would have more power than the dx100? Wonder how close they are in that department...

 

 



I may have mispoken, not that I was questioning the hardware, but the choice should be fairly obvious and you should honestly just consider if you're at home or if you're out and about.

 

I was drunk when I posted that truthfully.. I tend to get really shallow and cynical to put it politely and definitely did not know wtf I was talking about. The timestamp will reveal the story haha. Sorry mate..

 

HDP will have more power, you get a preamp option, and you get the personal satisfacting knowing the particular DAC chip they use is also on their $1500 reference DAC.. Now it doesn't make it the end-all source, but coupled with that amp circuit, it's been a really tough item to beat for me. I'm doing this thing where I'm spending circles around it trying to really just find that ultimate bang for the buck item, so you can see my enthusiasm when I talk about it.

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post #12 of 26
4/3/12 at 11:45pm
Thread Starter 

Thanks everyone for all the useful information.

 

My original intention was I was thinking of doing two things:

 

1) Buy an Iphone or Ipod and connect it to my E11 via LOD to get better sound for my portable rig. As right now I'm going from sansa fuze+ headphone out to the e11. In the long term if I get tempted I was thinking of maybe upgrading my portable amp to something better. But that's in the future.

 

2) I will be getting a new laptop for sure in the next few months. I'll prob get an MSI gaming laptop. So this also prompted me to consider seriously to get the Icon HDP for home listening with my laptop. For my home set up the most I was willing to do was just get the Icon HDP as both my dac and amp for my headphones.

 

And now the DX100 comes along. And based on what everyone's saying, I'm guessing it'll outperform anything I do with option 1. However it does come with an $800 price tag, which is a bit too high for me.

 

However, this is why I was curious as to how it stacks up against the Icon HDP. Because if the Icon HDP is clearly better than the DX100 sound performance and power wise by a level or two then I'll have to consider if I want to pay 800 bucks for a portable player/rig in the dx100 and also have to buy an Icon HDP for home use (if the Icon HDP is infact in another class or two above the dx100).

 

But if the DX100 is very close, the same or even better than the Icon HDP in performance and power then it's a no brainer for me to get the DX100 as in this case I might actually be saving a bit of money by just getting this dap and forgetting about needing to get another desktop rig like the HDP.

 

I listen to my music both outside and at home a lot with headphones. And somewhere in the near future I'm looking at upgrading from my HD558's to something better, maybe the Q701, DT880 or even the HD800's if i feel crazy enough. Really in the end if the HDP is in fact a noticable step or class above the dx100 I wouldn't mind getting it as well for my home rig. But if the DX100 is infact the same performance if not better, then that will make it even easier for me. hahaha

 

When I'm outside listening, I tend to use the HD25 for on ear, and will be using the monster Miles Davis IEM's.

 

Thx again for everyone's for all your help! =D

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post #13 of 26
4/4/12 at 9:42pm

You're going to have to see how well the HDP performs with certain headphones in contrast to how the performance with the DX100 with the same headphones. In this case, you may have to consider looking for HDP + HD800 vs. HDP + DX100 DX100 + HD800.

 

I don't qualify to comment on the HDP's sound, but I can assure you that the DX100 does not lack in any way. You may get a better relative idea of how the DX100 sounds if you find comparison between a CLAS/[DB2]/SR71B or PB2+topkit portable stack (DB2 optional) and the HDP, because the DX100 outperforms the former setup, without any external amping; even my LCD2 sounds better.

 

Let the search begin?


Edited by Girls Generation - 4/5/12 at 1:37pm
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post #14 of 26
4/5/12 at 1:24pm
Thread Starter 

Great input guys. Thanks a lot! 

 

Thx to all the advice from everyone and in particular Scootermafia, I think in the future I'll also go for a pair of LCD-2 bamboo's. Too bad there's no shop here locally that carries them for me to audition. It does seem to have the type of sound sig I'm looking for though. Rich and lush with a touch more bass than the hd800. But this will come after I go for the DX100 since I want to improve my portable rig anyways, which will be somewhere in the future as well. I'm guessing since the DAC is so good on the DX100 that really "if" I ever want to get a better home rig I would only need to look for a very nice amp and I can use the dac on my dx100. But not sure if I'll feel the need to improve my home rig since based on what everyone's saying the DX100 seems more than adequate to drive headphones like the hd800 and lcd-2's very well.

 

Thx again everyone!

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post #15 of 26
4/5/12 at 1:37pm

Made a mistake in the previous post.

 

 

Where in Canada are you?



Quote:
Originally Posted by Eric23 View Post

Great input guys. Thanks a lot! 

 

Thx to all the advice from everyone and in particular Scootermafia, I think in the future I'll also go for a pair of LCD-2 bamboo's. Too bad there's no shop here locally that carries them for me to audition. It does seem to have the type of sound sig I'm looking for though. Rich and lush with a touch more bass than the hd800. But this will come after I go for the DX100 since I want to improve my portable rig anyways, which will be somewhere in the future as well. I'm guessing since the DAC is so good on the DX100 that really "if" I ever want to get a better home rig I would only need to look for a very nice amp and I can use the dac on my dx100. But not sure if I'll feel the need to improve my home rig since based on what everyone's saying the DX100 seems more than adequate to drive headphones like the hd800 and lcd-2's very well.

 

Thx again everyone!


Edited by Girls Generation - 4/5/12 at 1:38pm
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